Electric switch



UNIT-,ED *STAT-Es? PATENT *.FOFFICE. Y

JEssE L. HINDs, oF ysYRAcUsn, New YORK.

I ELECTRIC SWITCH'.

SFEOIFICATION formingpart of .Letters Patent lNo. 512,614, dated January 9, 1894.

Application flledMay 16,1892. Serial No. 433,081. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom t may concern.- e

Be it known that I, JESSE L, HINDS, of Syracuse, inthe county of "Onondaga, in the State of New` York, have inventedY new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, `of which the following, taken Vin connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.7 y

My invention relates to electric switches or circuit breakers, and has for its object the production of a simple and effective device of practical and economical construction; and to this endit consists, essentially, in a base plate provided with the terminals of an electric circuit and a projecting standard, a lever hinged to the'standardand provided with an arm extending toward the base plate and carrying contact faces adapted to engage the terminals on the base plate, a face plate disposed in a plane substantially parallel to that of the base plate and formed with openings therethrough, push buttons `having one extremity movablel inthe openings in the base plate and the other loosely mounted on supports hinged to the opposite ends 'of the lever, and a spring for engaging said lever and rocking the same on its pivot.

The invention furthermore consists in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which, like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively top plan or face view, and side Yelevation of my improved' switch. Fig. 3 is an end view of the parts as shown at Fig. 1. Figja is a longitudinal vertical sectional View, taken on line -4--4-, Fig. 1, the partsY being shown as in their position assumed when the circuit is closed. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View similar to Fig. 4,'With the exception that the parts are shown in their position assumed when the circuit is broken, and the push buttons and contact plate on the pivoted lever are shown in elevation. t Fig. 6 is an end View, partly in section, of my switch, the parts being shown in the same position as at Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and S are respectively isometric perspectives of the detached standard on the 4base plate, and the screw for securing the standard in position, and Fig. 9 is a detached sectional view, partlyin elevation, of a slightly modified form of my invention.

As usually constructed switches project from the wall of the room in which they are secured,and even though form'edof superior material and workmanship, they do not present an ornamental or pleasing appearance, and the finish of said wall is considerably deteriorated. In my present invention the switch is mounted in a recess in its supporting'wall, is concealed by a face plate, which may correspond in finish to that` ofl the wall, and its parts are few and simple, and of such practical construction that the cost of the switch is but trifling and its operation certain, effective, and durable.

' The base plate -A- is formed of porcelain or other suitable non-electric conducting material, and consists preferably of a dat plate. The facek plate -B- is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to that of the base plate -fA-, and is preferably of greater length and width than the base plate for entirely covering the recess in which the parts of the switch, with the exception of the base plate and push buttons, presently described, are concealed. Y v l At Fig. l I have shown the face plate in face view, and itwill be readily apparent that the same may be suitably finished or ornamented to correspond with the finish of the wall to which it is secured, although `I have here shown the same as having a plain outer face. The base and face plates -A- and -B- are` separated a suitable distance from each other by means of supports orbars -C-C- l secured in position by screws, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6, having their heads engaged with the base and face plates and their shanks with the supports. This construction of base and face projecting upwardly from the inner face of the base plate and provided on their adjacent sides with upwardly inclining engaging faces, and screw threaded shanks passed through the base plate -A- and held in position by nuts on the outer face of the base plate. The terminals DD are formed with central chambers for receiving the ends of the wires -e-e'- and are provided with screws suitable for securing the wires in position.

Projecting upwardly from the base plate -A- is a standard F having its upper extremity split by a slotl -fextending from a point in proximity to its base through its eXtreme upper end. The base of the standard F rests upon a suitable washer and is provided with an opening -fthrough which is movable a screw -f2 having its head provided with a shoulder bearing upon a shoulder of the standard -F- and its shank passed through the opening and an opening in the base plate and provided with a suitable tightening nut for iirrnly securing the standard in position. It will be evident, however, that this standard may be otherwise constructed, as, for instance, it may be provided with an integral shank secured to the base, but the described construction is particularly simple, economical in manufacture, and durable and practical in use, and serves also as a simple means of securement for the spring -I- presently described.

The switch lever -G- is pivoted at its central portion bya suitable pivot to the upper end of the standard --F-, and is preferably mounted Within the slot -f and provided With a central substantially right angular arm -gmounted in the slot -f and extending toward the base plate. At one extremity of the lever -G- is a downwardly extending arm -G- provided with a laterally extending foot G2 movable in a vertical plane midway between the engaging faces CZ-d* of the terminals -D--D-. Secured to this foot G2 is the central p0rtion of a contact plate --G3- preferably formed of spring material, its opposite eX tremities being free to yield and provided with longitudinal slots and with outer engaging faces adapted to make contact with the terminals -D-DM as the foot *G2- is rocked downwardly between the terminals.

The lever-G- is rocked to open and break the circuit by means of push buttons -H havingtheir outerends movable through openings .-b-bin the opposite extremities of the face plate B and their innerends suitably connected to said lever.

`As preferably constructed the push buttons H are formed of hard rubber or other nonelcctric conducting material, and are loosely mounted upon supports -hhinged at their inner ends to the opposite extremities ofthe lever -G- and having their outer ends mounted in sockets H` in the push buttons. For facilitating manufacture, the push buttons are loosely and removably mounted upon their supports -h-h-, thus obviating the expense of securing the same thereto, and, in order that they may be firmly held in op- -erative position the push buttons are of sufcient length, so that when the parts of the switch are assembled, the upper end of the depressed button, as seen at Figs. 2, 4, and 5, projects above the lower or inner face of the face plate B-, and they are provided on their inner ends with stop shoulders -HL- H2- adapted to engage the inner face of the face plate B-. As readily seen at Figs. l, 4, 5, and 6 the openings -bare formed with countersunk extremities for adding to the appearance of the switch and permitting a slight lateral movement of the push buttons as the switch lever -G is rocked. It will be evident that, `as thus described, the movement of the switch lever -G- is eected solely by the push buttons -II-II-, and that this movement would, in breaking and closing the circuit, be too slow to obviate fusing of the contact surfaces, and to prevent this result I provide a spring -I-, which is preferably of peculiar construction. This spring is best seen at Figs. 2, 4, and 5, and consists of a bar having its opposite extremities passed through an opening 3 in the head of the screw -f2 for securing the standard F in position. The central portion of the spring is formed into the loops --vl extending laterally from the head of the screw -fL- and is provided with an upwardly extending central arm z" having a somewhat pointed or inverted-V-shapedarm adapted to bear against the engaging face of the downwardly extending arm -gof the lever -G-. As preferably constructed this engaging face consists of an anti-friction roller -g journaled upon the extreme end of the arm -g.

It will readily be understood that, when the lever -G- is in a horizontal position, the roller -g rests directly on the extreme end of the spring -I-, and the instant the lever is rocked in either direction the spring arm passes to either side of the roller gand quickly forces said roller ateither side of a perpendicular to the pivot point of the lever -G- thus rocking said lever and serving to break and close the circuit. This form of spring is very simple, lis readily stamped to the desired form, is quickly assembled at the ysame time the standard -F is secured to the base plate -'A, and is also capable of quick and eiicient action.

At Fig. 9 I have shown a modified form of my invention in which but one push button is used for rocking the lever -G. In this case, however, the push button is rigidly secured to its support h, and is of slightly greater length than the push buttons, pre vionsly illustrated, in order that its outer end may be engaged for pulling the same outwardly to rock the lever G into position to open the circuit.

IOO

ITO

In assembling my invention theterminals -D-D- are secured to the base plate, the standard -F--, and the spring .-I- are then placed in position, the lever -G-f is provided with the plate G2, the supports -h-h'- are pivoted to the standard -F-, and the 'push buttons are then placed in position, and passed through the face plate, which is then firmly secured to the supports The operation of my invention will be readily perceived from the foregoing description and upon reference to the drawings, and it will be particularly noted that, as previously stated, the same is simple, practical, effective, `and economically constructed.

It is evident .that the construction of the detail lparts of my invention may be somewhat varied from that shown and described in thedrawings; hence I do not herein limit myself to such exact detail construction.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In an electric switch,the combination of a base plate provided witha pair of terminals, a lever having contact faces adapted to engage said terminals, supports hinged tothe lever, and push buttons removably mounted on saidsupports', substantially as and for the purpose described.

' 2. In an electric switch, the combination with the terminals of an electric circuit; of a lever carrying contact faces adapted to make contact with the terminals, supports hinged to the lever, a face plate having an opening therethrough, and push buttons having one end movable through the opening in the face plate and the other removably mounted on said supports, and provided with a stop shoulder adapted to encounter the inner face of the face plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In an electric switch, the combination with the terminals of an electric circuit; of la lever carrying contact faces adapted to make contact with the terminals, a face plate having an opening therethrough, supports hinged to the lever, and push buttons having one end movable through the opening in the face plate and the other loosely and removably mounted on the supports and provided with a stop shoulder adapted to encounter the inner face of the stop plate,substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In an electric switch, the combination with the terminals of an electric circuit; of a lever carrying contact faces adapted to make contact with the terminals, supports at the opposite extremities of said lever having their inner ends hinged thereto, a face plate having c a pair of openings therethrough, and-push buttons having one extremity movable through said openings and the other removably mounted on the outer ends of the supports, substantially as described.

5. In an electric switch,the combination of a base plate havinga projecting standard, terminals supported upon the base plate, a lever pivoted to the projecting standard and provided With a plate G3 having spring arms adapted to engage the terminals, supports hinged to the lever, and push buttons loosely mounted on said supports, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an electric switch, the combination of a base plate having a projecting standard, terminals supported upon the base plate, a lever pivoted to the projecting standard and provided with faces adapted to engage the terminals, a faceV plate separated from the base plate and disposed in a plane substantially parallel therewith and provided with an opening, having a countersunk outer end and a push button having one end movable through the opening in the face plate and the other flexibly connected to said lever, substantially-as speciled.

7. Inan electric switch, the combination with a base plate and the terminals of an electric circuit supported on the base plate; of a pivoted lever separated from the base plate and supported thereon and having an arm projecting toward said base plate, a foot extending laterally from the end of said arm adjacent to the base plate, a pair of contact faces carried by said foot, and a push button connected to the lever, substantially as set forth.

8. In an electric switch, the combination of' a base plate, a pair of terminals or contact faces projecting upwardly from the base plate and formed with inclined engaging faces on their adjacent sides; of a pivoted lever, separated from the base plate and supported thereon and having an arm projecting toward said base plate inclined spring arms secured to said lever for making contact with said faces, and push buttons connected to the opposite extremities of said lever for rocking the same, substantially as described.

9. In an electric switch, the combination wit-h a' base plate, the terminals of an electric circuit supported on the base plate; of a pivoted lever separate from the base plate and supported thereon and carrying contact faces adapted to engage said terminals, said lever being provided with an arm ext-ending toward the base plate and having a spring engaging face, a spring arm supported on the base plate and arranged opposite to said pivot and adapted to throw the spring engaging faces on opposite sides of a perpendicular to the pivot of the lever, and a push button connected to rock said lever, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

vrlO. In an electric switch, the combination with abase plate, the terminals of an electric circuit supported on the base plate; of a pivoted lever separate from the base plate and supported thereon and carrying contact faces adapted to engage said terminals, said lever being provided with an arm extending toward the base plate, a roller journaled in the free IOO IZO

end of said arm, a spring arm adapted to engage the roller and rock said lever on opposite sides of a perpendicular to the pivot of the lever, and a push button connected to rock said lever, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. In an electric switch, the combination with a base plate and the terminals of an electric circuit; of a pivoted lever carrying contact faces adapted to engage said terminals, a roller journaled on said lever at one side of its pivot, a spring having its base secured to the base plate and formed with end nloops -z`-t' and a central spring arm adapted to engage the roller and rock said lever on opposite sides of a perpendicular to the pivot of thelever, and a push button connected to rock said lever, substantially as specified.

12. In an electric switch, the combination with a base plate and the terminals of an elec tric switch; of asplit standard rising from the base plate, a lever pivoted to the standard and formed with a downwardly projecting arm movable between the sections of the standard and provided with areller, push but-tous con nected to the opposite extremities of said 1ever for rocking the same, and a spring having its base secured to the base plate provided with an upper spring bar having its central portion formed with an upwardly extending arm adapted to engage the roller, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

13. In an electric switch, the combination with a base plate provided with an opening therein, a pair of terminals supported on the base plate, a standard projecting from the base plate and provided with a slot in its upper end, an opening in its lower end, a retaining screw having one end passed through the opening in the standard and provided witha shoulder engaged therewith and having its other end secured to the base plate, a lever mounted in said slot in the standard and Aprovided with engaging faces for making contact with the terminals, supports hinged at one end to said lever, and push buttons loosely Vmounted on the other end of said supports, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

14. In an electric switch, the combination of a base plate provided withan opening therein, a pair of terminals supported on thebase plate, a standard projecting from the base plate,a retaining screw having one end provided with a shoulder engaged with a standard and formed with an opening therein and having its other end secured to the base plate, a lever hinged to the standard and provided with engaging faces for making contact with said terminals, and a spring passed through the opening in said retaining screw and formed with anarm for rocking said lever, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 31st day ot' March, 1892.

. JESSE L. HINDs;

Witnesses:

CLARK H. NORTON, E. A. WEISBURG. 

